Amirudin tells Umno to ‘look in the mirror’ over sincerity in election seat talks

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — PKR election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari responded to Umno's call for sincerity in future election negotiations by urging them to first examine their own approach, given that Pakatan Harapan (PH) previously ceded seats to facilitate a unity government. Utusan Malaysia reported Amirudin's statement, emphasizing that negotiations would become challenging if one side made conditions before discussions commenced.

He confirmed that PH had already shown its readiness to compromise during prior state elections, including by permitting BN to contest constituencies in Selangor that had been won by PKR. Amirudin noted the sincerity of their negotiations during those state elections and expressed hope for similar commitment in future discussions.

He cautioned against imposing conditions before conversations even begin, stating that BN's insistence on only contesting lost seats would complicate matters. Amirudin, who is also Selangor menteri besar, affirmed that PH remains open to negotiating seat allocations, including those beyond the 21 seats already identified by Umno and BN.

However, he stressed the necessity of sincerity in these talks, asserting that both sides must approach negotiations with genuine intent. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, pending his readiness to begin formal dialogues. Amirudin clarified that criticisms of BN as "sakau" (a Malay term implying corruption) were directed at individuals rather than the party, underscoring the federal government's role in overcoming such perceptions.